Archbishop of Canterbury pays tribute to Shimon Peres

Wednesday 28th September 2016

In a statement on the death of former Israeli president Shimon Peres, the Archbishop of Canterbury said today:

“Shimon Peres led an extraordinary life of service to the nation of Israel, and to the cause of justice and reconciliation. His unshakeable commitment to a vision of peace endured in the face of every possible setback and spurred all those working for peace to persevere.

"When I met him in Israel in 2013 I was struck by his realism about the difficulties and dangers facing Israel, together with the profound hope for a better future that continued to animate his life and work. May it inspire all who continue to work for peace. My prayers today are with his family, the people of Israel and all those working for reconciliation in the Middle East.”